Wireless video/audio signal transmitter/receiver

ABSTRACT

This invention is new to the field in two ways: [1] it sends audio/video signals wirelessly between tablet computing devices and smartphones to projection devices instead of using attached cables, and [2] it does not require an app, a second computing device, a driver, a download, or a “jailbreak” of the computing device to function properly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/865,101, filed Jan. 8, 2018, and titled “WIRELESS VIDEO/AUDIO SIGNALTRANSMITTAL/RECEIVER,” which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/347,043, filed Nov. 9, 2016, and titled“WIRELESS VIDEO/AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER,” which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/754,561, filed Jun.29, 2015, and titled “WIRELESS VIDEO/AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER,”which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/693,364,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,071,866, filed Dec. 4, 2012, and titled “WIRELESSVIDEO/AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER.” The above identifiedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein theirentireties and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I have invented a wireless audio/video signal transmitter/receiver. Oneapplication of this device could be to wirelessly send audio and videosignals from a handheld device to a projection device such as atelevision or other projector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device is a tablet computer (e.g., an Apple iPad or similar unit)audio/video accessory consisting of two parts: the first part, a plasticand electrical wiring composite device that attaches to the ‘audio/videoout’ port of the tablet computer and is coupled to a transmitter thatsends the tablet's audio and video signals using industry-standard radiofrequencies to the second part, which consists of another plastic andelectrical wiring composite that is a radio frequency receiver coupledwith an MDMI/VGA video attachment. Users attach the transmitter portionto a tablet computer, and the receiver portion to a standard LCDprojector or other device such as a television, in order to display thecontents of the tablet computer on an LCD projector or televisionwithout the use of a VGA cable directly linking the two devices. Insummary then, the device consists of two parts, and each part has twodistinct but joined sections. The first part consists of an ‘audio/videoout’ section and a radio frequency transmitter; the second part consistsof a radio frequency receiver and an HDMI/VGA female connector.Together, these two parts will work in concert to [1] attach to a tabletcomputer such as an iPad and transmit its audio and video signalswirelessly to the second part which will [2] receive the audio and videosignals and convert them to standard HDMI/VGA display and stereo audioformat for use with numerous computer monitors, televisions, andprojectors.

What are the advantages of this invention? The main advantage thisdevice has over existing devices is that is lets the user roam freelywhile displaying the contents of a computing tablet such as an iPad; allprevious devices are based on a VGA cable connecting the tablet computerdirectly to a projector; this wireless device allows for a wirelessconnection more in keeping with the mobile nature of computing tabletssuch as the Apple iPad. Hence, the main advantage of this wirelessaudio/video signal transmitter/receiver is that it allows for greaterfreedom of movement during presentations and teaching sessions. Althoughthere are other projector connecting devices, they are all cable-based.That makes this connector superior because it is:

-   -   More versatile    -   Less awkward for the user to move about during presentations    -   More in line with the interactive nature of teaching and        presentations    -   More able to give presenters and teachers the freedom to allow        others to use their computing device during a class or        presentation while carrying their computing device with them    -   Simpler to use for mobile computing pad presenters    -   Easier to connect since it does not require long, expensive        cables    -   Less expensive to connect since long HDMI and VGA cables are        very expensive    -   More capable of being customized to varying heights and        placements of projectors than a heavy, long cable

The principle advantage is to reduce the problem of being tethered to aheavy, thick, long cable while using a light, mobile computing tablet.The wireless nature of this transmitter/receiver means only a very smallunit is attached to the mobile tablet, offering a distinct advantageover devices that require being directly connected to an audio/videocable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are various views of a transmitter.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are various views of a receiver.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are audio and video flowcharts.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are block electrical diagrams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

What are the components of the device, and how do they interact? Thisapplication includes eight drawings describing the device parts. FIGS.1, 2, and 3 are various views of the wireless transmitter. FIG. 1 is aside perspective FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are various views of the wirelessreceiver. FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow charts indicating how the audio andvideo signals travel from origination to destination using the wirelesstransmitter and receiver. FIGS. 9 and 10 are block electrical diagramsof the transmitter and receiver.

More specifically, FIG. 1 is a front elevated view of the transmitterportion of the device, showing a computer tablet attachment 1 as itconnects to a cable 2 which sends audio and video signals to a wirelesstransmitter 3. FIG. 4 then shows a wireless signal receiver 4 attachedto a VGA connector 5, which connects to a standard computer monitor, LCDprojector, flat screen television, or other display device.

How does the invention achieve its result? The technological computinglandscape has been changed drastically in the recent past by theproliferation of mobile computing pads. These pads offer long batterylife, powerful display features, and a high degree of mobility. However,technology to display the contents of these mobile computing pads, suchas the Apple iPad, currently are based on long clunky cables that tiethe user to a specific location when presenting information from such atablet device. This restriction of movement goes against the grain ofthe mobility inherent in these computing pads and tablets. Therefore awireless device, which increases the mobility of the presenter whilestill allowing the contents of the computing pad to be displayed to alarge audience, would be both effective and desirable.

How the wireless audio/video signal transmitter/receiver achieves itsresult (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8): The purpose of this device, its desiredresult, is to send the audio/video signal of a mobile computing pad to adisplay device wirelessly, without the use of a bulky cable that tethersthe device to one location.

How the device achieves this result (see FIG. 2): A user attaches thetransmitter portion of the device to a mobile computing tablet using 1.The audio/video signal from the tablet travels from 1 through the wiresin 2 to the transmitter 3 as shown in FIG. 2. That signal travelswirelessly to the receiver 4 in FIG. 4 where it is then sent to a VGAconnector 5 in FIG. 4. This connector 5 attaches to any number ofstandard VGA male connectors on monitors and projectors, thus sendingthe audio/video signal from the mobile tablet to a display device. Asshown specifically in FIGS. 9 and 10, a power controller and powerswitch supplies the transmitter with power through a 5 volt supply andan internal rechargeable battery for local logic, a programmingconnector, and also to an HPD to a display port HDMI level translatorand a 30-pin Apple connector. The HDMI level translator communicateswith an auxiliary integrated circuit to a video network processor and anRF transceiver with multiple antennas for spatial diversity. The audioand video signal from the iOS or other handheld computing tablet orsmartphone device is thus sent to a receiver. The receiver uses agrounded 5V power supply and multiple antennas for spatial diversity toreceive the sent audio and video signals into a video network processoras HDMI. This then flows into an MUX device that separates HDMI 1 andHDMI 2 signals; 1 is sent to an HDMI to VGA adapter; while #2 is sent toan HDMI external connector. The VGA adapter then runs RGB andHSynch/VSynch signals to an external VGA connector; the video networking‘in’ processor also separates the stereo audio signal into an on-boardaudio buffer, through a line level audio apparatus, and into a stereoaudio connector. The end user connects this receiver to a projectiondevice such as an LCD projector, television, or other display device,and then wirelessly mirrors the display of the handheld computing tabletdevice onto the television or other display.

Description of components: A Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector is athree-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. The 15-pin VGA connector is found onmany video cards, computer monitors, and some high definition televisionsets. A DE-15 is also conventionally called an RGB connector.

DE-15 is also conventionally called an RGB connector, or HD15 (HighDensity, to distinguish it from the older and less flexible DE-9connector used on older VGA cards, which has the same shell size butonly two rows of pins). VGA connectors and cables carry analog componentRGBHV (red, green, blue, horizontal sync, and vertical sync) videosignals, and video display data. The same VGA connector can be used witha variety of supported VGA resolutions, ranging from 640×400 px @70 Hz(24 MHz of signal bandwidth) to 1280×1024 px @85 Hz (160 MHz) and up to2048×1536 px @85 Hz (388 MHz). This makes the connector compatible witha wide range of projection devices, from standard computer monitors toLCD projectors to HD televisions.

In a female DE15 socket (the side contained in the proposed new device),Pin 1 is RED for red video, Pin 2 is GREEN for green video, Pin 3 isBLUE for blue video, Pin 4 is ID2/RES, formerly Monitor ID bit 2, and isreserved; Pin 5 is a GND for Ground (HSync), Pin 6 is RED_RTN for redreturn, Pin 7 is GREEN_RTN for green return, Pin 8 BLUE_RTN is for bluereturn, Pin 9 is KEY/PWR formerly key, now +5V DC, Pin 10 is GND forGround (VSync, DDC), Pin 11 is ID0/RES formerly Monitor ID bit 0 and isreserved, Pin 12 is ID1/SDA, Pin 13 is HSync for the horizontal sync,Pin 14 is VSync for the vertical sync, and Pin 15 is ID3/SCL for MonitorID bit 3. This detailed listing is for the 15-pin VESA DDC2/E-DDCconnector; the pin numbering is that of a female connector functioningas the graphics adapter output. In the male connector, this pinnumbering corresponds with the mirror image of the cable'swire-and-solder side. The device's receiver part would have a ‘female’VGA attachment. VGA production is well-known and well-established. Itsproduction history is by its designer, IBM based on the D-subminiaturearchitecture from 1987 to the present day.

HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transferring uncompresseddigital audio/video data from an HDMI-compliant device (“the sourcedevice”) to a compatible digital audio device, computer monitor, videoprojector, or digital television. Because HDMI is electricallycompatible with the CEA-861 signals used by digital visual interface(DVI), no signal conversion is necessary, nor is there a loss of videoquality when a DVI-to-HDMI adapter is used. As an uncompressed CEA-861connection, HDMI is independent of the various digital televisionstandards used by individual devices, such as ATSC and DVB, as these areencapsulations of compressed MPEG video streams (which can be decodedand output as an uncompressed video stream on HDMI).

For digital audio, if an HDMI device supports audio, it is required tosupport the baseline format: stereo (uncompressed) PCM. Other formatsare optional, with HDMI allowing up to 8 channels of uncompressed audioat sample sizes of 16-bit, 20-bit and 24-bit, with sample rates of 32kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz. HDMIalso supports any IEC 61937-compliant compressed audio stream, such asDolby Digital and DTS, and up to 8 channels of one-bit DSD audio atrates up to four times that of Super Audio CD. With version 1.3, HDMIsupports lossless compressed audio streams Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HDMaster Audio.

Some tablet computers, such as the Microsoft Surface, Motorola Xoom,BlackBerry PlayBook, Vizio Vtab 1008 and Acer Iconia Tab A500, supportHDMI using Micro-HD MI (Type D) ports. Others, such as the ASUS Eee PadTransformer support the standard using Mini-HDMI (Type C) ports. TheiPad has a special A/V adapter that converts Apple's data line to astandard HDMI (Type A) port. Samsung has a similar proprietarythirty-pin port for their Galaxy Tab 10.1 that can adapt to HDMI as wellas USB drives. The Dell Streak 5 smartphone/tablet hybrid is capable ofoutputting over HDMI. While the Streak uses a PDMI port, a separatecradle is available which adds HDMI compatibility. Most of the Chinesemade tablets running Android OS support HDMI output using a Mini-HDMI(Type C) port. Most new laptops and desktops now have built in HDMI aswell. Many recent mobile phones support output of HDMI video via eithera mini-HDMI connector or MHL output.

Next, wireless communication between the two parts of the device.Wireless communications is the transfer of information between twopoints (in this case, the transmitter portion and the receiver portionof the device) that are physically not connected. Distances can be longor short, as a few meters as in this example. The device's two partscould be constructed using the block diagrams attached to thisdescription by any competent electrical engineer. Other common andfrequently-used examples of wireless technology include GPS units,garage door openers, wireless computer mice, and cordless telephones.The wireless operation referred to here permits short rangecommunications that are impractical to implement with the use of wiresor cables. Since the idea behind tablet computing is mobility,especially when teaching, training, or delivering information toaudiences, wireless frees the presenter from being cabled to the frontof a classroom or auditorium; such cabling limits the presenter'smovements and restricts their ability to move around the room interactwith their audience Furthermore, wireless allows a teacher to lendcontrol of the tablet computer to students or attendees, increasingtheir interaction with the device and the material being presentedwithout having to leave their seat.

The term wireless is commonly used to refer to systems (e.g. radiotransmitters and receivers, remote controls, computer networks, networkterminals, etc.) which use some form of energy such as radio frequency(RF) to transfer information without the use of wires. Information istransferred in this manner over both short and long distances—for thepurposes of this device, that distance would not exceed 20 meters.

The transmitter module is an electronic component using a variety ofradio signals to remote control the target device which has a built-inreceiver module. RF modules are widely used in garage door openers,wireless alarm systems, industrial remote controls and wireless homeautomation systems as well as classroom tools including wirelessteaching tablets such as elnstruction's “Mobi” and Smart Technology's“SMART Tablet.” The same technology is used in the receiver portion ofthe device.

What are alternative ways that the invention can achieve its result? Theway the device parts are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the transmitterportions are joined by a cable, and the receiver portions are not.However, the invention could achieve its result in the followingalternative ways:

-   -   Both parts could have their sections joined by a cable;    -   Neither part could have their sections joined by a cable,    -   The transmitter could be cable-free, and    -   The receiver could have a cable.

The idea behind a cable on the transmitter is to allow it moreflexibility when moving around the room; if a presenter bumped a chairor table or desk with the device, the cable will flex and prevent damageto that section. But the device could achieve its result by:

-   -   Both parts having cables,    -   Both parts not having cables, or    -   Either part having or not having a cable.

Different sizes and lengths of transmitters and receivers can be used.Bluetooth™ or any other wireless send-receive technology can be used inplace of radio frequency technology in both the transmitter and thereceiver. The mobile computing device video out attachment is shown asone for an Apple iPad; it can be altered to fit numerous other devices,including but not limited to the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab,the BlackBerry PlayBook, the Kindle Nook, the Kindle Fire, the HPTouchPad, the Microsoft Surface, and any number of other mobile tabletcomputers and computer netbooks, as well as laptop and notebookcomputers.

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A method of wirelessly mirroring video from a mobiledevice to a display screen, the method comprising: at a transmitterdevice: by at least a first one or more video and audio signalprocessors preconfigured to provide communications with a second one ormore video and audio signal processors: receiving a video and audiosignal from a mobile device via a communications connector configured toelectronically connect to a standard communications port on the mobiledevice; generating, based on the video and audio signal received fromthe mobile device, an HDMI video and audio signal; and generating, basedon the HDMI video and audio signal, a wireless network transmissionsignal; and by a first RF transceiver: communicating the wirelessnetwork transmission signal wirelessly to a second RF transceiver via afirst antenna and without retransmission by additional wirelessnetworking devices; and at a receiver device preconfigured for operationwith the transmitter device: by at least the second RF transceiver:receiving the wireless network transmission signal from the first RFtransceiver via a second antenna; and communicating the wireless networktransmission signal to the second one or more video and audio signalprocessors; and by at least the second one or more video and audiosignal processors preconfigured to provide communications with the firstone or more video and audio signal processors: receiving the wirelessnetwork transmission signal from the second RF transceiver; generating,based on the wireless network transmission signal, the HDMI video andaudio signal; and outputting the HDMI video and audio signal to adisplay screen via an HDMI output connector configured to electronicallyconnect to an HDMI input port on the display screen.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the mobile device comprises at least oneof: a tablet computing device or a smartphone computing device.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein the display screen comprises atleast one of: a monitor, a television, or a projector.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the transmitter device further comprises afirst housing configured to house the first video and audio signalprocessor, the first antenna, and the first RF transceiver.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein the receiver device furthercomprises a second housing configured to house the second video andaudio signal processor, the second antenna, and the second RFtransceiver.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the receiverdevice is integrated into the display screen.